Struggling Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson scratched for tonight's game in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- His first full NHL season has been a struggle for Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson.

Ericsson will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season tonight in San Jose. Coach Mike Babcock said the 6-foot-4 defenseman will watch the game in the press box with general manager Ken Holland.

"We've talked over and over and over again,'' Babcock said. "We think he's a good player. We like what he's done in the past. We like his size and his talent. But it hasn't gone (well) for him, for whatever reason. He's got to get that fixed. We've talked enough now. He's got to decide that he wants to be in the lineup each and every night. Maybe sitting tonight is what he needs.''

Ericsson, who has been prone to turnovers and has been caught out of position too often, has a team-worst minus-12 rating in 41 games.

Expectations were raised after Ericsson's strong playoff performance last season. He can't explain why he hasn't been nearly as strong this season.

"It's not that I don't feel good out there,'' Ericsson said. "I've dealt with it before. It's always going to go up and down. You're never going to play good all the time.''

Tomas Holmstrom will return to the lineup after missing 13 games with a broken foot. Babcock said he hadn't decided how he'd sort out his first two lines, saying Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg will play together in the warm-up and then he'll see how the game goes. But the third and fourth lines will look like this:

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Babcock wouldn't reveal how he'll use his defense pairings. Niklas Kronwall is good to go after hurting his knee on Sunday. Brett Lebda and Derek Meech are in the lineup.

Ville Leino and Brad May are healthy scratches at forward. Jimmy Howard will start in goal.